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Substance abuse treatment following a natural disaster is often met with challenges. If treatment is available, facilities may be unequipped to service an influx of patients or provide specialized care for unique populations.This paper seeks to evaluate trends in substance abuse treatment over time and assess changes pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina.Substance abuse treatment admission data (N = 42,678) from New Orleans, Louisiana, for years 2000 through 2012 were obtained from the Treatment Episode Data Set. Admissions were examined to evaluate demographic, socioeconomic, psychiatric, and criminality trends in substance abuse treatment and assess changes following Hurricane Katrina.Treatment admissions have decreased from 2000 to 2012. About one in five admissions had a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem. A staggering 76% of admissions with a psychiatric illness were referred by the criminal justice system post-Katrina as compared to pre-Katrina. Rates of alcohol and marijuana admissions have remained stable from 2000 to 2012. Cocaine/crack admissions have declined and admissions who abused heroin have increased over time.Treatment admissions stabilized following Hurricane Katrina; however, since 2009, they have begun to decline. Targeted exploration of factors affecting admission to treatment in New Orleans with populations such as the homeless, those with a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem, and those referred by the criminal justice system is essential. The results of this study assist in identifying variations in substance abuse treatment characteristics for those admitted to treatment in New Orleans.

IntroductionDespite continuing efforts to reduce tobacco use in the USA, decline in smoking rates have stalled and smoking remains a major contributor to preventable death. Implementation science could potentially improve uptake and impact of evidence-based tobacco control interventions; however, no previous studies have systematically examined how implementation science has been used in this field. Our scoping review will describe the use of implementation science in tobacco control in the USA, identify relevant gaps in research and suggest future directions for implementation science application to tobacco control.Methods and analysisOur team, including a medical research librarian, will conduct a scoping review guided primarily by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodology. We will search English language peer-reviewed literature published from 2000 to 31 December 2020 for terms synonymous with ‘tobacco use’, ‘prevention’, ‘cessation’ and ‘implementation science’. The databases included in this search are MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (ProQuest), ERIC (ProQuest) and the Cochrane Library (Wiley). We will include cohort and quasi-experimental studies, single-group experiments and randomised trials that report qualitative and/or quantitative data related to applying implementation science to the planning and/or delivery of interventions to prevent or decrease the use of tobacco products. Studies must target potential or active tobacco users, intervention providers such as educators or healthcare professionals, or US policy-makers. A minimum of two reviewers will independently examine each title and abstract for relevance, and each eligible full text for inclusion and analysis. Use of implementation science, demonstrated by explicit reference to implementation frameworks, strategies or outcomes, will be extracted from included studies and summarised.Ethics and disseminationThis study is exempt from ethics board approval. We will document the equity-orientation of included studies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Equity Extension checklist. Results will be submitted for conferences and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberOpen Science Framework Registry (6YRK8).

Background: A high priority area identified by the President's Cancer Panel is increasing the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. One group at highest risk of HPV-related cancers is a hard to reach, underserved, and marginalized population – indigent women who use sex for drug money. Illicit drug users are characteristically at high risk for acquiring HPV due to risky sexual behaviors and a greater likelihood of exposure to social networks with high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. International studies suggest these populations may have a different HPV profile. In one of the largest studies of female sex workers, cervical lesions were commonly negative for HPV 16/18, suggesting a role for other high risk HPV (hr-HPV) types or multiple co-infections. Yet there is little known about the HPV profile of street sex workers in the United States. Building on a non-traditional partnership with law enforcement and over 36 community organizations (the Dallas Prostitute Diversion Initiative, Texas), we are providing cancer prevention screening services with HPV co-testing targeting those women diverted to substance abuse treatment centers. We report here on the prevalence of HPV serotypes across cervical and anal sites and across age groups that could inform future HPV vaccination efforts in this vulnerable population. Methods: We partnered with AIDS Arms Clinic to create a point of access for cancer screenings among women in substance abuse treatment at Nexus Recovery, the largest female-only substance abuse recovery center in North Texas. Screenings provided include cervical and anal PAP screens with HPV co-testing (16, 18, or other hr-HPV). Other high risk types included 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, or 68 and were reported in aggregate. Also included were screenings for breast, hepatitis, and HIV/sexually transmitted infections. A follow-up clinic visit was provided 7 days from the initial screen as a second opportunity to educate, explain screen findings, and navigate positives to diagnostic care. This prevention services project is ongoing through August 2016 with the goal to screen 1220 women. Results: A total of 538 women were screened for cervical and anal HPV. The average age was 33 years, 33% were non-white, and over 80% were smokers without health insurance. One-quarter reported 50+ lifetime sex partners. Twenty-nine percent were cervical hr-HPV positive, with 87% classified as other hr-HPV serotype and 13% as HPV 16/18+. Similarly, 32% of women were positive for anal hr-HPV, with the majority being other hr-HPV (88.4%). Unexpected was the bimodal age distribution of HPV prevalence, peaking at 22 years and 48 years. Conclusion: The HPV serotypes observed in this study provide baseline HPV prevalence rates for monitoring future HPV vaccination efforts in this and similar underserved populations. This is significant since one of the fastest growing segments of the criminal population are women offenders serving time on probation for low level offenses related to drug activity and prostitution. HPV vaccination programs in this target population may need to be broadened to include mid-adult women and other serotypes in addition to HPV 16/18. Citation Format: Martha J. Felini, Oluwatosin Igenoza, Saritha Bangara, Kelechi Ukpaka, Opeyemi Jegede, Shuchika Gupta, Gene W. Voskuhl, Timothy Kremer, Ralph Anderson, Raquel Qualls-Hampton. Cervical and anal HPV serotype-specific prevalence among high-risk indigent women in substance abuse recovery. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B69.

Objective: workers in slaughterhouses and processing plants that handle pigs, and pork butchers/meatcutters have been little studied for health risks associated with employment, in spite of the fact that they are potentially exposed to oncogenic and non-oncogenic transmissible agents and chemical carcinogens at work. We report here on an update of mortality in 510 workers employed in abattoirs and processing plants that almost exclusively handled pigs and pork products. Methods: standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated for the cohort as a whole, and in subgroups defined by race and sex, using the corresponding US general population mortality rates for comparison. Study subjects were followed up from January 1950 to December 2006, during which time 45% of them died. Results: mortality was significantly increased overall in the cohort. A statistically significant excess of deaths was observed for colon and lung cancers in the entire cohort, SMR=2.7 (95% CI, 1.2–5.1), SMR=1.8 (95% CI, 1.1–2.7), respectively. Significant SMRs in the cohort as a whole were also observed for senile and pre-senile psychotic conditions (SMR=5.1, 95% CI, 1.4–13.1), and pneumonia (SMR=2.6, 95% CI, 1.3–4.8). An observed excess of subarachnoid hemorrhage was seen mainly in whites (SMR=10.1, 95% CI, 1.2–36.3). There was a suggestion of an excess of deaths from ischemic heart disease also, but the elevated SMR was confined to men and was not statistically significant. Conclusion: this study confirms the excess occurrence of lung and colon cancers, and stroke previously reported in this occupational group. New findings are the excess of risk for senile and pre-senile psychotic conditions and pneumonia, which together with the excess of colon cancer appear specific for pig/pork workers, as they were not evident in much larger studies of workers in abattoirs and processing plants handling cattle and sheep. However, caution should be exercised in interpreting these findings, since some of them could have occurred by chance, resulting from our examination of a large number of causes of death in multiple study subgroups. For the moment, the significance of these findings remains unknown until they are confirmed in larger studies of adequate statistical power. Studies that will take into account possible occupational and non-occupational confounding factors are needed.

Patients with impaired kidney function are at increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death. The association between chronic kidney disease and frontal T wave axis deviation, a cardiovascular risk factor, in individuals without heart disease is unexplored and unknown. To test the hypothesis that chronic kidney disease predicts frontal T-wave axis deviation, American participants 40 years of age or older from NHANES III, were categorized as having and not having chronic kidney disease based on glomerular filtration rates estimated by both serum cystatin C and serum creatinine and serum creatinine alone. Frontal T-wave axis deviation was measured from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. Multivariable adjustments for age, ace, smoking, metabolic syndrome, albuminuria, left ventricular mass, QRS duration and heart rate were performed. In multivariable weighted regression analysis, the odds ratio for abnormal frontal T wave axis deviations and their corresponding 95% CIs in patients with decreased glomerular filtration rate determined by an equation included cystatin and creatinine was 1.90 (1.20–3.32). The odds ratio of frontal T wave axis deviation due to decreased kidney function, determined using an equation included serum creatinine alone, was 1.65 (1.10–2.90). This study suggests that abnormal frontal T wave axis deviation abnormalities occur in subjects with chronic kidney disease. Those with decline in renal function should be considered at risk for potentially serious T-wave associated arrhythmias and thus carefully monitored.

Purpose: Women in residential and out-patient substance abuse treatment programs represent a broad range of criminally affected indigent women and vulnerable street sex workers at highest risk of cervical cancer. This population is underrepresented in research, but through a nontraditional partnership with law enforcement this project capitalized on reaching a previously hard to reach population that is at high risk for cervical cancer and more likely to not have participated in recommended cervical screens. Scientific studies describe female jail populations receptive to cervical screenings with approximately 70-90% reporting a Pap screen in the last three years; however, knowledge of screening for cancer was poor. Preliminary findings from focus groups conducted among the target population suggest that self-administered HPV testing would not be well accepted or trusted among this population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the uptake rate of cervical cancer screening from female nurse practitioners. Methods: Using findings from preliminary focus groups conducted among the target population, investigators adapted and integrated an evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and trauma sensitive women's health education into the largest female substance abuse center in Dallas, Texas, to prepare women for the opportunity to participate in a cervical exam the following day. Cervical screenings were provided at the AIDS Arms outpatient clinic which specializes in providing medical care to extremely poor and vulnerable populations. Other screenings provided included anal, breast, HIV/ sexually transmitted infections, and Hepatitis B and C. Screening positives are navigated by care coordinators for diagnostic screening. Results: Over a five month period, 214 women in residential substance abuse treatment have completed the education seminar on cancer prevention and screening. One third of those participating were African American, Hispanic, or American Indian. Over 98% of women completing education seminar signed up for the cancer screening opportunity and completed the screening the next day. Approximately 5% of cervical pap smear results received thus far were abnormal (ASCUS or LSIL). Nearly 15% reported last pap smear 5 - 10 years ago. One out of every four tested positive for anal high risk HPV. Conclusion: The uptake rate observed in this population exceeded what was anticipated based on the few studies of jail populations available. Thus, women in substance abuse treatment present an exceptional window of opportunity to engage them in cancer screening programs. We hypothesize that trauma-based education prior to offering a cervical exam is a critical factor in increasing screening uptake among this population. Three year project funded by Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. Screening is ongoing through 2016. This abstract was also presented as Poster B71. Citation Format: Martha J. Felini, Raquel Qualls-Hampton, Saritha Bangara, Darius Taylor, Gene W. Voskuhl. Cancer screening uptake among women in substance abuse treatment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr PR05.